There was only one problem with the recent surge that brought the Ducks back to life as it relates to the playoffs.

For their comeback to really matter, they had to keep playing just as well. If not better.

Consecutive losses -- Monday at Colorado, Wednesday against Buffalo -- have turned a desperate situation toward something closer to dire. With 18 games left, the Ducks are in a position where they likely can lose only two or three more times.

And even that might not be good enough.

On a night when the eighth-place Dallas Stars managed only one point in a home shootout loss to Pittsburgh, the Ducks let two points slip away at Honda Center against a Buffalo team likely bound for nowhere.

Both the Ducks and Sabres are gasping for points at the moment, and the home team Wednesday couldn't find a way to solve Ryan Miller.

In their past six periods, the Ducks have just a single goal. It's hard to win games this time of year; it's impossible when you're not scoring.

Unfortunately for the Ducks and their fans, impossible has crept a closer this week.

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